Knife-cleaner



(No Mudel.)

A. D. GANFIELD.

KNIFE CLEANER.

Patented Sept. 7,1897.

wmtisges qua 1w. mvema e t ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES ATENr Erica,

ANNA n. OANFIELD, or CEDAR GROVE, NEW JERSEY.

KNIFE-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,639, dated September '2, 1897'.

Application filed October 24,1896. Serial No. 609,878. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, ANNA D. CANFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Grove, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife-Cleaners5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica tion.

The objects of this invention are to provide a more simple and convenient device for use in the household in cleaning knives, (to; to enable corks, potatoes, &c., to be employed in the cleaning operation without the need of handling the same and thus soiling the fingers, and to secure other advantages and re snlts, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved knife-cleaner and in the arrangements and combinations of parts, all substantially as will be herein after set forth, and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved cleaner adapted to receive the cork. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a port-ion of the same, the cork being shown in outline; and Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a portion of the device with the cork and in the condition of practical use.

In said drawings, a a indicate two pieces of wire, preferably of steel or other resilient metal of adequate stiffness, which are bent or doubled, asindicated in Fig. 1, to form prongs a a a 0, of unequal lengths. The prongs a a are laid together and fastened, so as to be inseparable in their relations to one another, either by twisting the wires together, as shown, or by soldering them or employing other means of attachment. At the extremities of the prongs laid together the wires are bent apart, as at 0/, so that they form a central fork a The prongs a" of the wires are somewhat longer than the prongs 0/, and at their extremities the same are bent, as at a so as to lie in planes parallel with one another and bear against the opposite sides of the corks lying between. They are also bent inwardly, as at a'"', at right angles to said parallel planes of the first bends, so as to enter the said cork and prevent any movements thereof duringtheknife-cleaning operation. Back from the extremities the longer prongs of are bent, as at b, so as to form opposite inclines, and upon said prongs is arranged a sliding sleeve or collar f, which is adapted to force the longer prongs together to hold the sharpened pron g-points c in proper holding relation with the cork. Where the said wires are doubled or bent, as at cl, to formprongs, the said wires a a form loops 6, by which the cleaner may be suspended from a nail. The said wires where doubled form a handle of suitable breadth to be grasped with firmness and convenience.

The sleeve f is preferably composed of flat wire.

The cork h employed in the cleaning op eration is such as is commonly found about the household after having been employed as bottle-stoppers. I prefer to place one of such corks in position when putting the article on the market, so that the article is complete for cleaning. It may be marketed, however, without such cork. The cork is adapted to take up the hath-brick and apply it to the knife, as will be well understood by one skilled in the art of cleaning knives.

In fastening the cork h I first draw the collar or sleeve down the inclines Z1 toward the handle extremity, when the free ends of the resilient wire spread and allow the pointed extremities thereof to withdraw from the cork, after which the center prongs may be withdrawn from the cork without tearing the same.

In applying the cork to the handle or holder the reverse operation is performed, the short central prongs being 15 rst thrust into the cork, then the longer outer prongs, extending substantially at right angles to the first, being thrust into the opposite sides until the bearings a engage said cork, when the collar is forced up the inclines to hold the device in fixed relation to the cork, as will be understood. The pointed prongs thus enter the cork at four different points in its periphery and are adapted to hold said cork with firmness and security and without danger of be coming detached. I may employ other than cork in cleanin gsuch,for exam ple, as a piece of potato.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new isl. The improved knife cleaning device, comprising a cork and a handle or holder of bent wires having a central two-pronged fork and longer prongs adapted to engage the opposite sides of the cork, and means for holding the said longer prongs in holding relation with the cork, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the cork, of a holder or handle comprising two wires each bent into a U shape to form pairs of prongs, the wires being united and the outlying wires forming bearings to engage the opposite sides of the cork, and a sliding collar, all parts being arranged, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the bent wires a, a, having a center fork 66"", to enter the cork and prongs to engage the outer sides of said cork, said prongs being bent near their extremities, as at a and lying in parallel planes and form broad bearings to engage the said outer sides of the cork, of means for holding said prongs against the said opposite sides, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination of the wires, (1, a, bent as at (I, (Z, to provide holding-prongs a, -.l/ the'pron gs a having bends a to form bearings and bends a, to form oppositely-directed points, substantially as set forth.

5. A holder for cork, or the like, for service in cleaning knives, comprising wires a, .z. doubled to form prongs a, a, a, a, the prongs a, a, being laid together and fastened and thus rendered unseparable in their relation to one another, the said prongs a, a", :L a", each providing points or extensions adapted to enter into holding relation with said cork at opposite sides and intermediate points, substantially as set forth.

6. The improved knifecleaner, comprising two doubled wires, united by twisting the contiguous prongs, the outer prongs being bent at their extremities to engage the sides of the cork, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing i have hereunto set my hand this 9th day or October, 1896.

AN NA D. CAN FIELD.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, O. B. PITNEY. 

